Mexico City, Oct. 16 - Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. announced today that Grupo Modelo, its controlling shareholders, and its subsidiary, Diblo, S.A. de C.V., have filed a notice of arbitration against Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Anheuser-Busch International, Inc. and Anheuser-Busch International Holdings, Inc.
The arbitration relates to Grupo Modelo's and the controlling shareholders' rights under the Investment Agreement between Grupo Modelo, its controlling shareholders and Diblo, and Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Anheuser-Busch International, Inc. and Anheuser-Busch International Holdings, Inc. in connection with the proposed merger between Anheuser-Busch and InBev S.A./N.V.
As set forth in the notice of arbitration, the Investment Agreement, which is governed by Mexican law, prohibits Anheuser-Busch from taking actions that would result in a transfer or disposition of its interests in Grupo Modelo and Diblo to a competitor in the beer business. In addition, the Investment Agreement prohibits Anheuser-Busch from taking any actions that would result in a transfer or disposition of any portion of its investment in Grupo Modelo and Diblo without first giving the controlling shareholders of Grupo Modelo an opportunity to purchase the shares in Modelo and Diblo being transferred by Anheuser-Busch.